Why is it hard to define just one way to pick the best watermelon? Because there are so many types such as seedless watermelons and picnic watermelons.

“There are many ways to pick out a watermelon. At the Watermelon Board, we represent and promote all varieties of all watermelon equally, and nationally. Therefore, our selection tips are rather broad so that they are applicable to shoppers no matter the type of watermelon they are selecting from, no matter the region,” Barlow said.

However, one thing to look for when choosing your watermelon are yellow ground spots.

“[We] prefer the color indicator of butter yellow. Too bright of a yellow color might indicate over ripeness,” Barlow said.

Still eager to hunt down the perfect tips, we found these recommendations from the Watermelon Board to pick a good watermelon.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Look the watermelon over.

You are looking for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.

2. Lift it up.

The watermelon should be heavy for its size. Watermelon is 92 percent water, so most of the weight is water.

3. Turn it over.

The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

Even though these haven’t been scientifically verified, we think these old wives tales are worth mentioning.

1.  Look for the webbing – these are brown spider web or vein-like scabs that appear in and around the ground spots.
2. Take gender into account – the longer shaped melons are “male” and tend to be watery. The round and stout watermelons are “female” and are sweeter.
3. Size – the best tasting watermelons are average-sized.
4. Look at the tail – the tail indicated its ripeness. The browner and drier  the tail looks, the better the odds that it was picked at a prime ripe stage and will taste better.

While Barlow states that these tips are not scientifically valid based on the lack of ability to corroborate these methods. Anxious to try, we went to the store and tried these tips ourselves and it worked! However, that was only one time and we know that means it’s not scientifically valid… yet.

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Top Tips for Using Thanksgiving Leftovers

1. Don’t Forget About Food Safety

Use the 2-2-4 rule to make sure your Thanksgiving leftovers stay safe to eat.

• 2 hours: Make sure to refrigerate or freeze food within two hours of cooking. The food safety experts at the USDA note that bacteria in food left out for more than two hours double in number every 20 minutes.
• 2 inches: To prevent bacteria growth, food needs to be cooled quickly and evenly. Store leftovers in shallow dishes that are around two inches deep.
• 4 days: Eat leftovers within four days and make sure you reheat to 165 degrees F before eating.

For additional information on Thanksgiving food safety, check out these links:

• http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/turkey_leftovers.html 
• http://food.unl.edu/thanksgiving-food-preparation-and-food-safetytips

2. Don’t Forget the Sides

Turkey is often front and center in Thanksgiving leftovers, but many of the side dishes can be repurposed in delicious recipes. Try cranberry sauce as a topping for ice cream or pancakes or use those extra yams in a pie or the stuffing in empanadas.

3. Plan Ahead and Be Realistic

Many Thanksgiving hosts fear they won’t have enough food for all of their guests and end up cooking too much. To find a balance between having some leftovers and not wasting any food, the key is to plan ahead and be realistic about the amount of food you actually need. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the portion sizes for different dishes.

4. Utilize Unique Spices and Ingredients

Ethnic dishes and spices can turn leftovers into a fresh new meal. Be creative and try something new!

Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe Roundup

We asked a few of our favorite food bloggers about their favorite ways to use up holiday leftovers – here’s what they had to share!

Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla (3-Cheese Turkey Cranberry & Sage Quesadilla) – The Cookie Rookie

Becky from the Cookie Rookie says: “I’ve found that the traditional Thanksgiving flavors all blend so well, you can get really creative with using the leftovers! Stack that rice casserole onto a turkey panini, make the cranberries into a reduction and use it on a salad, the list goes on and on. It’s fun to try new things – you can’t go wrong!”

Try Becky’s recipe for Thanksgiving Leftovers Quesadilla.

Cranberry-Turkey Enchiladas – A Dash of Sanity

Sandra from A Dash of Sanity says: “Load up on the Tupperware: Heading over to a friend’s or family for Thanksgiving dinner? Don’t forget the Tupperware so you are sure to leave with some leftovers without leaving with their dishes. If you are hosting, make sure to have a stack on hand; it’s an easy way to send home with guests and not have to worry about getting back your dishes.”

Take your leftover turkey to the next level with Sandra’s recipe: Cran-Turkey Enchiladas

Leftover Thanksgiving Brunch Waffles with Fried Egg & Gravy – Climbing Grier Mountain

Lauren from Grier Mountain says: “Make sure to cool your leftovers down before you refrigerate them. This will help keep leftovers fresh and safe to eat. For faster cooling, separate into smaller, shallow containers.

Turn your Thanksgiving dinner into breakfast with Lauren’s Leftover Thanksgiving Brunch Waffles with Fried Egg & Gravy.

A few other favorites:

Mashed Potato Cakes with Cranberry Chutney from Oh Sweet Basil

Loaded Turkey Panini (for Thanksgiving Leftovers) from Pinch of Yum

_{Image: “leftovers” by Steve McFarland is licensed under CC BY NC 2.0}

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